The Alabama Stakes is an American

Thoroughbred horse race Thoroughbred racing is a sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport – flat racing and jump racing, the latter known as National Hunt racing in ...

open to three-year-old

fillies A filly is a female horse that is too young to be called a mare. There are two specific definitions in use: *In most cases, a ''filly'' is a female horse under four years old. *In some nations, such as the United Kingdom and the United States, t ...

. Inaugurated in 1872, the

Grade I In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...

race is run over a distance of one and one-quarter miles on the dirt track at

Saratoga Race Course Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track located on Union Avenue in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. Opened in 1863, it is often considered to be the oldest major sporting venue of any kind in the country, but is actu ...

. Held in mid August, it currently offers a purse of $600,000. In 2010 it became the third leg of the American Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing, after the

Acorn Stakes The Acorn Stakes is an American Grade I race at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies. It is raced on dirt over a distance of one mile with a current purse of $500,000. It is the first leg of the US Triple Tiar ...

and Coaching Club American Oaks. The Alabama Stakes is named in honor of William Cottrell of Mobile, Alabama. "Alabama" was the name settled on because Cottrell was too modest to have a race named for him personally. The inaugural running took place on July 19, 1872 and was won by a chestnut filly named Woodbine owned by prominent New York financier August Belmont Sr. The race was not run from 1893 to 1896 and 1898 to 1900. The 1908 passage of the Hart–Agnew anti-betting legislation by the

New York Legislature The New York State Legislature consists of the two houses that act as the state legislature of the U.S. state of New York: The New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly. The Constitution of New York does not designate an official te ...

under

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

Charles Evans Hughes Charles Evans Hughes Sr. (April 11, 1862 – August 27, 1948) was an American statesman, politician and jurist who served as the 11th Chief Justice of the United States from 1930 to 1941. A member of the Republican Party, he previously was the ...

led to a state-wide shutdown of racing in 1911 and 1912. During World War II, from 1943 through 1945 the Alabama Stakes was run at Belmont Park. The race has been contested at various distances: *1 mile and 1 furlong – 1872–1901, 1904, 1906–1916 * miles – 1901, 1902, and on the turf in 1903 * miles – 1905 * miles – 1917 to present

Records

Speed record at current distance: * 2:00.80 @ 1¼ miles : Go For Wand (1990) Most wins by an owner: * 5 –

Belair Stud Belair Stud was an American thoroughbred horse racing stable and breeding farm founded by Provincial Governor of Maryland Samuel Ogle in 1747 in Collington, Prince George's County, Maryland, in Colonial America. Colonial period Queen Mab and ...

(1924, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1953) * 4 – Walter M. Jeffords (1937, 1949, 1951, 1952) Most wins by a jockey: * 5 –

Jorge Velásquez Jorge Velásquez (born December 28, 1946 in Chepo, Panama) is a thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey. Jorge Velasquez's career in thoroughbred racing began in his native Panama but as a teenager moved to the United States. In 1967 he won ...

(1972, 1973, 1977, 1984, 1987) * 5 – Jerry D. Bailey (1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2005) * 5 – Mike E. Smith (1993, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2016) Most wins by a trainer: * 8 –

Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons James Edward "Sunny Jim" Fitzsimmons (July 23, 1874 – March 11, 1966) was a Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. Early life Born in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn in 1874, Fitzsimmons began his career in 1885 working at a racetrack as a stable boy. Aft ...

(1924, 1928, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1950, 1953, 1959)

Winners

+ In 1968 Heartland finished first but was disqualified and placed second.
+ In 1966 Lady Pitt finished first but was disqualified and placed second.
+ In 1942 Bonnet Ann finished first but was disqualified and placed last.
+ In 1908 Stamina finished first but was disqualified and placed last.

External links

Ten Things You Should Know About the Alabama Stakes at Hello Race Fans

References

{{reflist Graded stakes races in the United States Flat horse races for three-year-old fillies Grade 1 stakes races in the United States Horse races in New York (state) Saratoga Race Course 1872 establishments in New York (state) Recurring sporting events established in 1872 Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing